Satellite Symposium at ZEB UMI: Bridging between model and non-model animals

The use of traditional animal models may have been considered to be straightforward for novel scientific discoveries. However, with the advent of interdisciplinary/advanced approaches, the opportunities for the use of non-model organisms have become increasingly accessible. After the main congress, this symposium in Ushimado, a "Japanese Aegean Sea" resort, will bring together a limited number of international experts working with a range of model and non-model species, to create new research bridges, focusing on adaptations, behaviors and metabolisms not only in vertebrates, but also invertebrates. With novel approaches becoming readily available, the objective is to foster discussions and lay the framework for collaborations in a relaxed atmosphere at Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), and will inspire researchers with unprecedented seamless information. The UMI is newly renovated as the first academic "Net Zero-Energy building (ZEB)" in Japan.

Responses can be e-mailed to ryu@okayama-u.ac.jp

We are very much looking forward to seeing you here in Ushimado.

With best wishes,

Tatsuya Sakamoto, Mayuko Hamada and Satoshi Ansai (UMI) with Hirotaka Sakamoto (ex UMI), Okayama University

Matt Vijayan, University of Calgary

Satellite Symposium at HU: Long noncoding RNA regulation of spermatogenesis: A part of symposium 5

This satellite symposium is a part of the symposium entitled “New frontier in the regulation of spermatogenesis by hormones and long noncoding RNAs” held in ICCE19. Spermatogenesis is regulated by complicated molecular mechanisms involving hormones and various intracellular molecules. In the symposium, we invite researchers working on testicular steroid hormones, germ cells, and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and discuss the recent progress in the regulation of spermatogenesis. Here, to further discuss the role of lncRNAs in the testis, we invite another energetic researcher of a mouse testis lncRNA, Gm2044, which is one of the most studied testis lncRNAs and regulates the expression of spermatogenetic genes. This extends the knowledge of the regulation of spermatogenesis.

Response can be e-mailed to Dr. Atsushi P. Kimura (akimura@sci.hokudai.ac.jp).

Best wishes,

Atsushi P. Kimura (Hokkaido University), Takashi Yazawa (Asahikawa Medical University), and Toshio Sekiguchi (Kanazawa University)

Satellite Symposium at Kyushu University : Fish Reproduction in the 21st Century: Progress and Possibilities

This two-day event, held as a satellite symposium of the 19th International Congress of Comparative Endocrinology (ICCE19), focuses on bringing together specialists in fish reproductive biology and related disciplines. The Department of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences at Kyushu University is pleased to welcome researchers, academics, industry professionals and graduate students to this unique platform, which is dedicated to advancing our understanding of fish reproduction within contemporary scientific contexts.

Building upon the broader themes of ICCE19, the symposium will focus on recent breakthroughs and emerging technologies for understanding and managing fish reproduction in changing global environments, as well as future directions in this field. The 21st century has seen remarkable advancements in our understanding of fish reproductive biology, from molecular mechanisms to ecosystem-level influences.

This specialized forum aims to bridge the gap between fundamental research and practical applications by addressing urgent challenges in sustainable aquaculture, conservation biology and fisheries management. Participants will gain insights into how climate change, habitat degradation, and novel biotechnologies are reshaping our approaches to fish reproduction. The focus will be on the revolutionary potential of genome editing technologies to improve the reproductive efficiency and resilience of fish species. This could help to solve the problem of global food security in the face of growing population demands and environmental uncertainties.

The symposium will emphasize interdisciplinary collaborations that integrate genomics, epigenetics, endocrinology, behavior, and ecological perspectives to develop innovative solutions for enhancing reproductive success in captive and wild fish populations. The symposium will explore how advances in fish reproductive science can create sustainable pathways to strengthen aquatic food systems, support nutritional security, and maintain biodiversity.

Taking place alongside the main ICCE19 program, this satellite symposium provies an intimate setting for in-depth discussions and networking opportunities for fish reproduction specialists. Join distinguished experts and emerging researchers at this dynamic forum, which is designed to foster meaningful dialogue and establish new research partnerships. Together, we can shape the future of fish reproduction science over the next decade and address some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity.

Tentative schedule

For inquiries: [tapas_ch@agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp; k_ohta@agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp]